Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Fine Feeney strike seals win
A FINE individual effort from Liam Feeney earned Cherries a deserved victory as their strong start to the League Two season continued this afternoon.
Eddie Howes men dominated for long periods but they took until the 51st minute to find a way through an organised Crewe defence.
Talk prior to the match had centred around the clubs ongoing transfer embargo, but that was soon forgotten as Cherries turned in another solid display in front of their home fans.
Feeney, who could easily have scored a hat-trick, provided the moment of inspiration to earn the points, which Cherries held on to without any major scares.
Cherries boss Howe made two changes to his team following last weekends defeat at Northampton Town.
Ryan Garry recovered from concussion to replace Scott Guyett in defence but influential targetman Steve Fletcher failed to recover in time from the hamstring injury he suffered at Sixfields.
With a pre-match scan showing a grade one tear, the veteran faces about two weeks on the sidelines, leaving Howe with even fewer options in his wafer-thin squad.
Fletchers place was taken by central midfielder Joe Partington, with Howe moving Anton Robinson to right-back, allowing Lee Bradbury to partner Brett Pitman in attack.
Cherries new strike partnership linked well in the opening stages but it was the Crewe front three who contributed to the games first talking point.
In-form Calvin Zola thought he had given his side the lead with a low 15-yard drive on nine minutes, but fortunately for the hosts Anthony Elding was in an offside position in front of Shwan Jalal and the goal was ruled out.
That proved a rare moment of danger for Cherries in the early exchanges, as Howes men enjoyed plenty of the play as the teams settled.
And Pitman almost handed the Dorset outfit a deserved lead with an inspired 15th-minute moment.
The gifted forward brought Partingtons long pass down on his chest, having found space between the Crewe midfield and defence.
With no opposition player closing him down, Pitman tried his luck with a whipped 30-yard effort and he struck it brilliantly, only to see the crossbar come to goalkeeper Adam Legzdins rescue.
Cherries continued to call the shots without threatening seriously while Crewes efforts were not helped when they were forced to replace the injured Clayton Donaldson with Byron Moore.
Having dominated proceedings, Cherries managed to open up the Crewe defence in the 32nd minute, thanks to a brilliant, flowing move.
Partington and Molesley combined to find Sammy Igoe, whose clever ball found Bradbury with his back to goal. The versatile Cherries star played a perfectly weighted pass to send Pitman clear and his fierce shot was only kept out by a Legzdins parry, which needed to be cleared up on the goal-line by Patrick Ada.
Cherries fine start owed much to the midfield pair of Molesley and Partington, who between them were running the game and restricting Crewe to little possession.
But despite applying almost constant pressure as the half near its conclusion, Cherries struggled to find a way through a resolute and organised Crewe backline.
As Cherries tried to break their opponents down with a passing game, Crewe got some joy ahead of the interval by adopting a more direct approach.
A long ball from defence was headed down by Zola into the path of Elding, whose powerful strike was deflected over, ensuring there was to be no goal against the run of play.
In contrast to how they finished the first half, Alexandra started well after the break and would have taken the lead had it not been for Jalal.
The Cherries keeper dived full stretch to parry Eldings cross to safety, with Moore waiting at the far post to tap home.
But normal service was resumed on 51 minutes as Cherries finally got the goal their performance had deserved.
And it was a fine individual effort from Feeney who, having roared past Matt Mitchel-King and clear of the Crewe defence, struck a fine low shot across Legzdins and into the far corner.
The visitors upped their game after going behind, but they still struggled to make a major impression as the two defences remained on top.
Pitmans cross eluded Bradbury as Cherries looked to double their advantage, while Crewe captain Billy Jones and midfielder Aman Verma both received yellow cards, as did Molesley for persistent fouling.
In a game of few chances, Cherries almost put the game to bed with 14 minutes remaining, and it was another solo effort from Feeney which opened up the visiting defence.
The former Salisbury City prospect picked the ball up inside his own half and left Crewe defenders trailing in his wake with a wonderful weaving run. But with a goal of the season contender there for the taking, Feeney dragged his shot just past the post.
With the visitors throwing men forward in search of an equaliser, both Pitman and Igoe were denied by some last-ditch defending as Cherries countered.
Cherries were also being made to defend and they maintained their lead with five minutes remaining thanks to a fine Jalal save.
A deep cross fell nicely for Moore and his low drive from a tight angle brought a sharp save from the Cherries keeper.
In a frantic finale, Feeney could have netted again but he sliced wide following a quick Cherries break
Cherries: (4-4-2) Jalal; Robinson, Pearce, Garry, Cummings; Feeney, Partington (Bartley, 80), Molesley, Igoe (Guyett, 86); Bradbury, Pitman (McQuoid, 90). Unused subs: Pryce, Connell, Webb.
Booked: Molesley, Pitman, Bartley
Crewe Alexandra: (3-4-3) Legzdins; Ada, Mitchel-King, Worley; Brayford, Schumacher (Miller, 83), Verma (Grant, 71), Jones; Elding, Zola, Donaldson (Moore, 27). Unused subs: Collis, ODonnell, Tootle, Davis.
Booked: Jones, Verma
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 4,563
